Oral Oncology
Volume 46, Issue 4 , Pages 287-291, April 2010

Primary tumors of the submandibular glands: A retrospective study based on 41 cases

  • Panagiotis Ziglinas

      Affiliations

    • Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Inselspital, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland
  • ,
  • Andreas Arnold

      Affiliations

    • Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Inselspital, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland
    • Corresponding Author InformationCorresponding author. Address: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Inselspital, Freiburgstrasse, 3010 Berne, Switzerland. Tel.: +41 31 632 83 78; fax: +41 31 632 49 00.
  • ,
  • Marlene Arnold

      Affiliations

    • Institute of Pathology, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland
  • ,
  • Peter Zbären

      Affiliations

    • Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Inselspital, University of Berne, Berne, Switzerland

Received 24 November 2009; received in revised form 17 January 2010; accepted 18 January 2010. published online 02 March 2010.

Summary 

We report our experience on the diagnostic approach, treatment, and follow-up of primary submandibular gland tumors. Retrospective review. Tertiary referral center. Forty-one adult patients, 22 male and 19 female, with primary submandibular gland tumors, 20 benign and 21 malignant. Age, gender, clinical findings, cyto- and histopathology, treatment and outcome were analyzed. Most tumors presented as a painless submandibular mass. Thirty three patients underwent a fine needle aspiration, the sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of which – in detecting malignant tumors – were 79%, 100% and 88%, respectively. Preoperative radiological imaging was performed in 30 cases. Patients with benign tumors were treated with surgery. Most malignant tumors were treated with a combined modality, including neck dissection and radiation therapy. Five patients developed a postoperative complication. Recurrent disease was encountered in 5 malignant tumors. The 2, 5 and 10year disease-specific survival of patients with malignancy were 84%, 75% and 41%, respectively. The preoperative assessment of the nature of submandibular gland tumors remains challenging. Aggressive treatment of patients with malignant disease may help to avoid poor prognosis.

Keywords: Submandibular gland, Tumor, Malignant, Benign, Fine needle aspiration cytology, Neck dissection, Radiation therapy, Survival

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PII: S1368-8375(10)00024-2

doi:10.1016/j.oraloncology.2010.01.011

Oral Oncology
Volume 46, Issue 4 , Pages 287-291, April 2010